Picturing World Cultures: Mark Leong – China

B&H Photography Podcast

Jill Waterman

Podcast, Photography, Arts, Visual Arts, Bh, Photo

4.6 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 14 November 2024

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today’s podcast, we sit down with Mark Leong, a fifth-generation Chinese-American photographer, for Picturing World Cultures.

Above photograph © Mark Leong

From his arrival in 1980s Beijing on a one-year travel fellowship, to his decision to live and work there long-term over the following decades, we follow Mark’s path from his ancestral village to the Beijing art scene, and beyond.

He walks us through his experiences in documenting the massive cultural shifts as Chinese society transitioned from uniformity and limited choice to a realm of consumerism and increasing globalization.

We also discuss Mark’s long-term photographic project featuring China’s Post-90’s generation, the young adults born under the country’s one-child policy.

As Mark points out toward the end of our chat, “What’s interesting to me about this generation I’m photographing is that they have this kind of creativity, and they have the resources to use this creativity to make something.”

If you haven’t already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here.

Guest: Mark Leong

For more information about our guest and the gear he uses, see:
https:/www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-mark-leong-china

Stay Connected:

Mark Leong Website: https://www.markleongphotography.com/

Mark Leong on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markleongphotography/

Mark Leong on Redux Website: https://reduxpictures.com/artist/mark-leong

Mark Leong’s book China Obscura: https://www.amazon.com/China-Obscura-Mark-Leong/dp/0811844617

Mark Leong’s Award from Center: https://centersantafe.org/comingofage

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the B&H Photography podcast.
0:05.8	I'm Jill Waterman, the show's creative producer.
0:10.4	I'm also host of our new monthly series, picturing world cultures.
0:16.5	It's been said that the first generation of immigrants wants to survive,
0:25.6	the second wants to assimilate, and the third wants to remember. While this exact timeline is no doubt variable,
0:30.6	the general concept has recently turned fascination with ancestry
0:34.6	into an exploding trend.
0:44.3	But what happens when exploring one's cultural heritage leads to putting down roots, then building a career documenting the sweeping cultural changes amid the growth of a global superpower?
0:53.3	In today's show, we speak with a photographer who's done just that.
1:05.8	Walking us through his adventures in this ever-shifting landscape is photographer Mark Leone, a fifth-generation
1:13.1	Chinese American, born and raised in Sunnyvale, California.
1:18.1	After graduating from Harvard University in 1988, Mark was awarded a year-long Gardner
1:23.9	Travel Fellowship to photograph in his ancestral homeland.
1:28.3	He returned to China in 1992 as an artist in residence at Beijing Central Academy of Fine Art.
1:35.3	He ultimately decided to relocate to Beijing long term, where he lived until 2017.
1:42.3	During that time, he had a front row seat to the many changes in one of the
1:47.7	world's most populous countries. In 2003, Mark joined the photo agency Redux Pictures. His book,
1:55.8	China Obscura was published in 2004. A contributing photographer for National Geographic,
2:02.6	Mark's photos have appeared in many other major publications.
2:06.6	He's also received support from the NEA, 50 Crows,
2:10.6	the Overseas Press Club, the Open Society,
2:13.6	and most recently, Center's Blue Earth Fiscal Sponsorship Award.
	...

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